SKA Observatory
Programmes Directorate Business Manager
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Programmes Directorate Business Manager
Programmes Directorate Business Manager – Fixed-Term Role (Until March 2030)
SKA Observatory, Jodrell Bank, UK
About the SKA Observatory (SKAO)
At the SKA Observatory, we are driving a global initiative to build and operate the next generation of radio telescopes, delivering one of the largest science facilities worldwide.
Our mission spans astrophysics, technological innovation, and capacity development. Backed by over 20 international member countries and a collaborative team of 1,000+ scientists and engineers, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is a multinational endeavour like no other.
Headquartered at Jodrell Bank Observatory (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in the UK, with telescope sites in Australia and South Africa, the SKAO operates two world-class telescopes across three continents.
Our global team of 100+—based in Manchester, UK, and collaborating with regional teams—works in a collaborative, inclusive, and fast-paced environment. Joining Team SKA means contributing to a decades-long scientific legacy while thriving in a diverse, multicultural workplace that offers:
- 30+ days annual leave + public holidays
- Generous pension scheme
- Visa and relocation support (where applicable)
- Family-friendly policies
- Regular social events
- Flexible working arrangements
The Role: Programmes Directorate Business Manager
Key Purpose
As the Programmes Directorate’s senior coordination and business management lead, this fixed-term role (until March 2030) ensures Directorate priorities are translated into actionable outputs, fostering cohesive governance, timely delivery, and measurable improvements across the observatory.
You will act as the internal integrator, bridging technical, programme, commercial, financial, assurance, operational, scientific, and corporate functions, aligning efforts with SKAO’s strategic vision.
Core Responsibilities
1. Programme Coordination & Governance
- Serve as the primary point of contact for the Director of Programmes, ensuring coordination of Directorate outputs.
- Establish and maintain a Directorate-level operating rhythm, including:
- Forward agendas
- Action tracking
- Decision logs
- Escalation protocols
- Governance cycle management
- Maintain oversight of key commitments, risks, issues, decisions, and governance obligations at the Directorate and Observatory levels.
- Convert Directorate priorities into clear, time-bound deliverables with defined owners, deadlines, and completion criteria.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
2. Cross-Functional Alignment
- Proactively identify and resolve gaps, overlaps, duplication, and friction across:
- Engineering, software, and telescope teams
- Operations, assurance, science, and commercial departments
- Finance, HR, legal, and IT functions
- External partner engagements
- Build and nurture strong working relationships across matrix teams to ensure smooth collaboration.
3. Governance & External Engagement
- Serve as the lead coordinator for Directorate inputs to:
- Executive Group
- Council & Committee of Council
- Finance Committee
- Science & Engineering Advisory Committee
- Construction Programme Board
- Other key stakeholder forums
- Ensure governance materials are:
- Decision-focused
- Evidence-based
- Concise and forward-looking
- Aligned with forum-specific expectations
- Maintain a forward governance calendar, tracking:
- Upcoming decisions
- Briefing requirements
- Risk mitigation steps
- Stakeholder engagement opportunities
- Proactively manage external governance to ensure timely, proactive outcomes (not reactive).
4. Stakeholder & Leadership Support
- Assist the Director of Programmes in preparing for:
- Member-state engagements
- Partner and contractor interactions
- Advisory body meetings
- Track action closure to hold teams accountable for commitments made to senior leadership.
- Drive business improvement initiatives where cross-functional ownership is unclear.
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications & Experience
- Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in:
- Business management
- Programme/project management
- Engineering management
- Public administration
- Science administration
- Strategy, operations, or organisational management
- Minimum 5–7 years’ experience in:
- Business management, programme coordination, PMO leadership, or executive office roles
- Operating as a Chief of Staff, senior operations lead, or strategy implementation role
- Direct report to C-level or Board-level executives
- Coordinating complex cross-functional activity in a matrix organisation
- Preparing governance materials, executive briefings, decision packs, or legal compliance reports
- Closing actions, driving accountability, and organisational follow-through
- Navigating siloed teams with limited authority
- Experience handling sensitive, ambiguous, or politically charged issues with judgement and discretion
- Ability to improve business rhythms, governance processes, and reporting cycles
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Desirable Attributes
- Experience in large-scale science, engineering, or infrastructure organisations
- Familiarity with:
- Member-state or intergovernmental governance mechanisms
- Programme delivery lifecycle (construction to operations transition)
- Technical assurance, risk management, or regulatory compliance
- Hands-on experience with:
- Programme controls, change management, or benefits tracking
- Supporting boards, advisory committees, or external governance bodies
Working Arrangements
The SKAO offers flexible working in alignment with UK and SKAO policies, including:
✅ Hybrid/remote options (where applicable, per line manager agreement) ✅ Working across time zones on occasion ✅ Support for international relocation (where necessary)
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
The SKA Observatory is committed to a welcoming, inclusive culture where diversity drives excellence. We actively encourage applications from:
🌍 Women in STEM (historically underrepresented) 🤝 Disabled candidates (reasonable adjustments provided) 🇸🇦🇦🇺🇬🇧 Applicants from all member countries
Let’s build the future of astronomy together—apply today!
[See the SKA Observatory recruitment portal for full application details.]
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills